I'm Holly from northern Ontario. I've been vegan/gluten-free since early summer 2012. My initial concerns and motivations were for my health, but as I continued on I began to do more research. I learned about animal suffering and the effects on the environment from factory farming. Every day I learn more about what the food industry has said is "okay" or even "great" to put in our bodies, and what they're really doing to us.

Anyway, I've done a lot of yoga and leg exercizes, but I've only recently started using weights and building on my arms/back as well. I get a lot of friends poking fun at my tiny tube-like arms, but the difference (when I flex!) is already significant after only two months. I've always wanted to be able to carry my own weight around easily (I was never one of the kids on the monkey bars.)

There are a ton of vegan communities and a ton of fitness communities, but this is the first I've seen that ties the two together. I'm looking forward to learning, and sharing experiences. Thanks!

Hi Holly, welcome to the community. It sounds like you have similar interests and values as many of us here. I hope to see you share more with us. Maybe you will start a training and food journal with us in that section of the forum too?

Very similar interests. Welcome to the forum. Aside from combining fitness and veganism together, everyone here is pretty tight knit. I don't post as often but I always come back. This is home for me.

I also got into veganism first for health and later found out about factory farming and embraced the animal rights aspect of it. It becomes a lifestyle for the eco friendly, healthy, compassionate individual that truly wants to make a difference. You've made a good choice here.

Hope you enjoy your time on the forum and look forward to seeing you around on the threads.